Planning a Diwali dinner can very quickly go from “I’ll make a few things” to an elaborate menu of snacks, curries, biryani, sides and at least three desserts!
Over the years, I have realized that the easiest Diwali menu is not necessarily the smallest one. It is the one where most of the cooking can be done ahead, the dishes work well together, and I am not frying, stirring and pressure-cooking five things just as the guests walk in.
This is the kind of menu I actually like to make when we have people over for Diwali.
There are easy appetizers to put out while everyone is chatting, a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian mains, raitas and sides, and—because it is Diwali—plenty of Indian sweets.
A lot of the recipes can be made one or two days ahead. I also use my Instant Pot for some of the rice dishes, dals and desserts because it frees up the stove, but you absolutely do not need an Instant Pot to use this menu.
So instead of spending all of Diwali in the kitchen, the idea is to do most of the work before the party starts.
My Easy Diwali Menu
If I were putting together a Diwali dinner for friends or family, this is how I would build it.
Appetizers & Snacks
- Desi Charcuterie Board
- Chaat Dip
- 5 Minute Yogurt Dip
- Beetroot Falafel
- Indian Mint Chutney
- Banana chips, papdi, nuts and other easy store-bought snacks
Vegetarian Main Course
Non-Vegetarian Main Course
- Chicken Biryani
- Mughlai Chicken Korma or Laal Maas
- Jeera Aloo
Sides
Diwali Sweets & Desserts
You definitely do not need to make everything on this list!
Pick one appetizer, two or three mains, one fresh side and two desserts and you already have a very generous Diwali spread.
Easy Diwali Appetizers
I like to keep the appetizers particularly simple.
This is one place where I don't think everything needs to be homemade. If I am already making biryani, curry and dessert, I am perfectly happy opening a packet of good banana chips or papdi and concentrating my effort somewhere else.
Desi Charcuterie Board
For a larger Diwali party, my Desi Charcuterie Board is probably the easiest option.
Put out Indian snacks, cheese, chutneys, fruits, nuts and a couple of dips and let everyone help themselves while you finish dinner.
It is especially good for a Diwali card party or drinks because people can keep grazing instead of sitting down immediately for a formal appetizer.
Chaat Dip
My papdi chaat dip is another great party option.
It gives you all those familiar sweet, spicy and tangy chaat flavors but is much easier to serve to a group than assembling individual plates of chaat.
Serve it with papdi, tortilla chips or crunchy vegetables.
My 5 Minute Yogurt Dip
This is one of my tried-and-tested recipes when people come over.
My Greek Yogurt Dip needs almost no preparation and works with chips, crudités, falafel and anything else you happen to have on the appetizer table.
If I am making several dishes for dinner, this is exactly the sort of shortcut I want.
Beetroot Falafel & Mint Chutney
If you want one hot appetizer, make the Beetroot Falafel and serve it with Indian Mint Chutney.
The falafel can be shaped earlier in the day, so all you need to do later is cook and serve them.
Vegetarian Diwali Dinner Menu
For a vegetarian Diwali dinner I would make:
Vegetable Biryani + Dal Makhani + Palak Paneer + Jeera Aloo + Raita
This sounds like a big menu, but most of it can be prepared ahead.
Vegetable Biryani
Biryani makes a fantastic centrepiece for a Diwali dinner because you really don't need another elaborate rice dish with it.
I often make my Instant Pot Vegetable Biryani because it is quick and hands-off, but you can use whichever biryani method you prefer.
Dal Makhani
Dal Makhani is almost ideal party food because it tastes even better after it has had time to sit.
Make it the previous day, refrigerate it and gently reheat before dinner.
That is one less pot demanding your attention when guests arrive.
Palak Paneer or Mushroom Curry
Choose one additional curry.
I would normally make either Palak Paneer or Mushroom Curry, rather than trying to make both.
With biryani, dal and potatoes already on the table, you really don't need six mains.
Jeera Aloo
Potatoes are always useful on a mixed menu, especially when there are children at the table or guests who don't eat everything else.
My Jeera Aloo is simple enough that it doesn't compete with the richer dishes.
Non-Vegetarian Diwali Dinner Menu
For a non-vegetarian menu I would do:
Chicken Biryani + Chicken Korma + Jeera Aloo + Raita + Salad
Chicken Biryani
My Chicken Biryani is one of my favorite dishes to serve when we have people over.
It gives you rice and chicken in one dish and immediately makes dinner feel festive.
Mughlai Chicken Korma
If I want another curry on the table, I would choose Mughlai Chicken Korma.
It is rich and celebratory enough for Diwali and works beautifully with rice or naan.
If you want something spicier, Laal Maas is another option.
Again, I would choose one, not both.
The whole point of this menu is to have a wonderful spread without exhausting yourself before the evening even starts.
Raita & Fresh Sides
With all the rich Diwali food, I always like having something cool and fresh on the table.
Boondi Raita
A simple Boondi Raita goes with almost everything—especially biryani.
Biryani Raita
If biryani is the main dish, you can also make my Biryani Raita with Onion and Yogurt.
Khamang Kakdi
For something fresher, make Khamang Kakdi, a Maharashtrian cucumber salad with peanuts and coconut.
The crunch and freshness are particularly good alongside richer curries and biryani.
Diwali Sweets
Now to the most important part.
It doesn't really feel like Diwali without mithai.
I like having at least one ladoo-type sweet that can be made ahead and one spoon dessert such as kheer or phirni.
That gives you different textures without having to make five separate sweets.
Coconut Ladoo
If you want the fastest option, make my Coconut Ladoo with Condensed Milk.
It needs just a few ingredients and comes together very quickly, which makes it a particularly good last-minute Diwali sweet.
I also love that it can be made ahead and kept ready in the refrigerator.
Besan Ladoo
For something more traditional, make Besan Ladoo.
This is the kind of mithai that actually benefits from being made ahead, so it is perfect for Diwali planning.
Make it before the busy cooking starts and that's one whole part of dessert taken care of.
Ragi Ladoo
My Ragi Ladoo is another option if you want to add a slightly different ladoo to the mithai plate.
You could even make two kinds of ladoos and skip a more complicated dessert altogether.
Kheer
For a classic Indian dessert, make Kheer.
I originally built this Diwali menu around a lot of Instant Pot recipes, and kheer is still one of the dishes where I genuinely love using it because I don't have to stand over the milk constantly stirring it.
Make it the previous day and serve it chilled, or gently warm it before dinner.
Vermicelli Kheer
If you want something quicker than traditional rice kheer, make Vermicelli Kheer.
It is light, familiar and works very well after a rich Diwali dinner.
Kesar Phirni
For a dinner party where you want dessert to look a little more special, Kesar Phirni is wonderful served in individual bowls.
Make it ahead, refrigerate and garnish before serving.
Aate Ka Halwa
If you prefer a warm dessert, Aate Ka Halwa is simple, comforting and particularly lovely during the cooler festive evenings.
Rice & Indian Breads for Diwali
You don't need several rice dishes and breads on the same table. For a smaller Diwali dinner, I usually choose one rice and one bread, especially if there are several curries.
Basmati Rice
For the simplest option, serve Basmati Rice. It works with almost every dal and curry on this menu and is especially useful when you already have a rich main dish.
Jeera Rice
If you want something a little more festive than plain rice, make Jeera Rice. The cumin adds flavor without competing with richer curries.
Pulao
A simple Vegetable Pulao is another good option when you want the rice itself to feel special but don't want to make a full biryani.
Bhatura & Chana
For a more indulgent North Indian Diwali meal, serve Homemade Bhatura with Chana Masala or Chole.
This is a great option if you are hosting lunch or want one part of the menu to feel more like a proper festive feast. Add onion, pickle and a cooling raita on the side and you really don't need much else.
Paratha or Roti
For breads, serve plain rotis or parathas with the curries. If you want something different, I also have Cheese Paratha, Zucchini Paratha, and Avocado Roti & Paratha, although for a traditional Diwali dinner I would keep the bread fairly simple.
Poori
Poori is especially good with Aloo Tamatar Sabzi, Chana Masala or another North Indian potato or chickpea curry.
I don't currently have a standalone poori recipe on YellowThyme, so for now I would mention it as a serving option rather than link it elsewhere.
How I Plan My Diwali Cooking
This is probably the part that makes the biggest difference.
I don't want to spend the actual Diwali evening cooking while everyone else is sitting together.
So this is roughly how I divide the work.
2–3 Days Before Diwali
- Decide the final menu.
- Make the shopping list and buy everything.
- Make Besan Ladoo, Coconut Ladoo or Ragi Ladoo.
- Make any chutneys.
- Check that I have serving bowls, glasses and platters.
- Buy the easy appetizer extras—chips, papdi, nuts, fruit and anything going onto the grazing board.
This is also when I decide what I am not making.
That is important!
Once you have a biryani, dal, curry, side and desserts, nobody is wondering why there isn't another curry on the table.
The Day Before
Morning
Make the Kheer, Vermicelli Kheer or Phirni and refrigerate it.
Afternoon / Evening
Make the curries.
Dal Makhani is particularly good made ahead.
Prep anything needed for the biryani.
If you are making falafel, soak or cook the chickpeas and prepare the mixture.
Make the yogurt dip.
Prepare the raita ingredients but don't add anything that will become watery overnight.
On Diwali Morning
- Shape the falafels.
- Boil potatoes if making Jeera Aloo.
- Prep garnishes.
- Chop salad ingredients.
- Check serving dishes.
A Few Hours Before Guests Arrive
Make the biryani.
Finish the potatoes.
Take out the curries so they aren't refrigerator-cold when you start reheating them.
Set out plates, napkins, glasses and serving bowls.
This sounds ridiculously basic, but taking out all the serving dishes before people arrive saves me from opening ten cupboards looking for the right bowl while something is burning on the stove.
Just Before the Party
Assemble the Desi Charcuterie Board.
Finish the raita.
Fry or air fry the falafel.
Reheat the curries.
Garnish everything.
And then—most importantly—leave the kitchen.
Using the Instant Pot for a Diwali Menu
This post originally started as an Instant Pot Diwali menu, because at the time I was using my Instant Pot for almost every part of the meal.
I still use it a lot when entertaining.
Not because Diwali food needs to be made in an Instant Pot, but because having one dish quietly cooking away in a pressure cooker means my stove is free for something else.
Some of my favorite recipes to make this way are:
- Vegetable Biryani
- Chicken Biryani
- Dal Makhani
- Kheer
- Peas Pulao
- Shrimp Pulao
If you have an Instant Pot, use it where it makes your life easier.
If you don't, make the stove-top versions.
The menu is much more important than the appliance.
A Simple Diwali Menu for 6
If all of the choices above feel like too much, this would be my easiest complete menu for six people:
Appetizer
Chaat Dip + papdi
Main
Vegetable Biryani or Chicken Biryani
Curry
Dal Makhani
Side
Boondi Raita + Khamang Kakdi
Desserts
Coconut Ladoo + Kheer
That's it.
It is festive, there is plenty of variety, almost everything can be prepped ahead, and you are not cooking twelve dishes for six people.
More Diwali Recipes
If you are still planning your Diwali menu, here are some of my favorite festive recipes:
- Coconut Ladoo with Condensed Milk
- Besan Ladoo
- Ragi Ladoo
- Instant Pot Kheer
- Vermicelli Kheer
- Kesar Phirni
- Aate Ka Halwa
- Desi Charcuterie Board
- Chaat Dip
- 5 Minute Yogurt Dip
Whether you are hosting a big Diwali party or just making dinner for family, pick the recipes you genuinely enjoy making and do as much as possible before the day.
A good Diwali menu should mean more time around the table and less time standing over the stove.
Leave a Reply